When your proposal is accepted, you will receive an email from the Visitors Services Office (VSO) with guidelines about the scientific permit(s) you will need from the Government of Panama so you can carry out your project. In general, your will receive your STRI review within 20 working days (28 calendar days).

From here you can move to the next step.

Submit your permit application to the STRI Scientific Permit Office (SPO) at stri-permits@si.edu. (The SPO will serve as the sole liaison between you and the Government of Panama’s scientific permit granting entities).

You will need to create a login name and password. If you have already created a login name and do not remember it, please contact STRIRegistration@si.edu

STRI does not issue permits for scientific research in the Republic of Panama, except for the Barro Colorado Natural Monument. In general, the Panamanian authorities require 45 working days (63 calendar days) to evaluate and process your permit and they have the final decision regarding the issuance or not of a permit.

Along with your requests for permits, submit a STRI Visit Request at https://visitors.stri.si.edu/stri_new/ This information is used by our staff to evaluate availability of office and laboratory space, equipment, transportation, housing and permit issuance. Your intended arrival date should not be prior to 45 working days (63 calendar days).

We keep track of your housing and facility requests while your permits are in process. Please be aware that until your research permits are granted by the Panamanian authorities, you will not be able to start field work.